The Warren volleyball team celebrates after defeating London in four sets in Saturday’s regional championship match at Pickerington North. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

PICKERINGTON — Sarah Pettey has been chasing this feeling for a long time.

After helping the Warren volleyball team defeat London in Saturday’s regional championship match at Pickerington North — giving the Warriors their first ever state tournament berth — Pettey thought back to some of her tougher times on the volleyball court.

Pettey, Warren’s senior libero, remembers winning just three games all year during seventh grade. Two years later, Pettey’s first season of high school volleyball, Warren finished with just four victories.

Back then, the idea of a Warren volleyball team making it to state was merely something Pettey and her classmates would dream about.

Three years later, that dream has become a reality.

Warren’s bench celebrates after winning the opening set in Saturday’s regional championship match at Pickerington North. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

The Warriors will play Roger Bacon in the state semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Butler High School, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s state championship.

“We’ve had this dream for so long and it’s coming true,” Pettey said. “We’re still not done. We made it here and we’re still going.”

After having to come back from early deficits in their previous two matches, the Warriors got off to a better start this time around, winning the opening set 25-22. After dropping the second set 26-24, Warren took care of business in the third (25-18) and fourth (25-23) sets to punch their ticket to the Final Four.

“It’s just a remarkable feeling,” said Warren head coach Ann Skufca. “I couldn’t be happier for these girls to finally be able to see every hour that they spent in the gym and watching film pay off.”

Skufca took over the program after that four-win season in 2021 and has played a pivotal role in turning things around.

“Ann coming here my sophomore year was a great moment,” Pettey said. “She brought a culture shift in our program. I think that’s what ultimately led us here. Also, the Long sisters coming over from Fort Frye helped. Don’t get me wrong.”

Fellow Warren senior Bailey Saliba agreed.

“I think it’s Ann, because her work ethic is crazy,” Saliba said. “I’ve never seen dedication in something like how she has for this.”

Skufca deflected credit to her players.

“It goes back to these seniors taking over,” Skufca said. “For Payge (Cornell), Sarah and Bailey, they were the first seniors I had after I took over the job at Warren. Sydney (Starcher) was my first freshman at the time. Them buying into a culture, and then Mady (Long) coming in last year with her sister (Makenna). With seniors like that who buy in day-in and day-out, I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

With Elayna Greenwalt at the service line, Warren scored the first six points of the match, capped by Greenwalt’s first of a match-high four aces. London rallied to tie it at 9-all, but Greenwalt’s kill sparked a 7-1 run to allow the Warriors to take control. From there, London got within two twice, but Long had a pair of kills, both assisted by Cornell, to close it out.

Cornell went on to record her 2,000th career assist in the match and was recognized between the third and fourth sets.

“When I came in, Payge was fighting for a spot as the starting setter,” Skufca recalled. “Her work ethic of coming in the gym early and staying late, it paid off for her. That was one of her goals. She got 1,000 last year and was like, ‘Let’s go for 2,000. Why not? Bring it.’ Having a setter like that goes well with our offense.”

Nobody was happier to see Cornell reach the milestone than the two teammates who have been there with her since day one.

“She’s been talking about it forever,” Saliba said. “I’m so proud of her.”

Pettey added, “It was a very special moment. Afterward she came over and hugged all the seniors. In seventh grade, we won a total of three games, so seeing her accomplish this milestone is just mind-blowing. I’m so, so happy for her.”

Warren trailed 19-12 in the second set but came back to tie it at 24-all after back-to-back kills by Starcher. London called timeout, though, and came back out to get the final two points to even things up at 1-1.

Starcher opened the third set with a pair of kills to help Warren build a 4-0 advantage. London tied it at 5-all, but Warren stretched its lead back out to 13-7 on a kill by Long, who finished with a match-high 29. The Red Raiders couldn’t catch up from there and watched Warren take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Warren was a team on a mission in the fourth set and pulled ahead 19-11. However, London, which finished the season with a 22-4 record, tallied seven of the next eight points to cut it to 20-18. Kills by Greenwalt and Long put Warren up 24-20, one point from victory, but the Red Raiders won the next three points to stay alive and get within one.

Warren, which bested Meadowbrook in five sets in Thursday’s regional semi, had no interest in another five-setter as Cornell assisted Long on one last kill to send the Warriors into celebration-mode.

“They were very tough,” Skufca said of London. “These girls, not only are they successful on the court, they’re also successful in the classroom. Having smart athletes being able to read the adjustments and making those on the fly, it’s remarkable.”

Saliba added, “Their quicks were definitely killer for us, but I think we had good coverage. I feel like a big thing for us is starting off strong, and we did that.”

Saliba pointed out how much hard work it takes for a team to achieve this level of success.

“We’ve had 5 a.m practice, we’ve had two-a-days, we’ve had weight room, we’ve had all summer — it’s just what it takes to win I guess,” she said. “Definitely worth it.

“It’s crazy. It’s unreal. I can’t believe it. We’ve been talking about this since I first got here as a freshman, so it’s exciting.”

Pettey believes the Warriors are at their best when they play together.

“We played as we always have,” she said. “We had chemistry, we played as a team and that’s really what gets us through every single game. It’s all about chemistry. My team and I, we love each other and that’s the biggest factor here.”

Skufca took a moment to reflect on the past few seasons and the journey to getting to this point.

“Each year we always try to make things better,” the coach said. “First year we got 14-8. Last year was our first OVAC championship. That was a 20-4 season. Unfortunately we lost in the sectional championship. This year, it’s Final Four.

“The main thing was we embraced the change and embraced the culture of it. Now is the time it’s paying off where they can embrace this championship.”

Jordan Holland can be reached at jholland@mariettatimes.com.